The remains of a U.S. Army Air Corps sergeant killed during a bomb run over Germany in World War II will be returning to American soil Thursday, and a nonprofit organization Tuesday asked Inland Empire residents to consider paying tribute to the serviceman when his casket is borne to a Riverside mortuary.
“We reach out to the community … to ask for your support lining the route with flags to honor this hero as he is returned home to receive the honors he deserves,” said Laura Herzog, founder of Garden Grove-based Honoring Our Fallen.
Tech Sgt. Donald V. Banta of Los Angeles was killed in action over Gotha, Germany, on Feb. 24, 1944.
The 21-year-old flight engineer was aboard a B-24J Liberator that was shot down amid heavy anti-aircraft fire. Two of his fellow crew members escaped before the four-engine bomber went into a steep dive and hit the ground, exploding on impact. Banta and the other men with him perished, according to details provided by the 703rd Bombardment Squadron, 445th Bombardment Group, at the time.
Herzog said German forces recovered remains found in the wreckage and buried them in a local cemetery.
Anthropologists from the U.S. Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency recovered the remains and conducted mitochondrial DNA testing which, last September, confirmed the remains belonged to Banta, she said.
Military officials arranged for the return of the remnants, which will arrive at Ontario International Airport early Thursday afternoon. The estimated time of departure from the aerodrome to Arlington Mortuary is 3:30 p.m.
According to Herzog, the route to the mortuary will begin at Moore Way, turning east onto Airport Drive, then southbound on Haven Avenue, where the hearse will proceed for several miles until reaching Mission Boulevard, where it will head east again, ending at Hayes and Taft streets, in the mortuary parking lot.
Details on his burial services were not disclosed.
More information is available at honoringourfallen.org/.